In the area of maturity and responsibility, Broncos’ strongside linebacker Von Miller appears to have come a long way in a year.

Miller is the Broncos’ union rep. He has been since former team rep Joel Dreessen was released on July 22 and the NFL Players Association needed a point of contact in case something came up.

Something came up. The union is currently engaged in a conference call with its 32 team reps to discuss the proposed new drug policy that would include the first-ever testing for human growth hormone.

Miller is a part of that Tuesday night call as the Broncos’ rep. Just a year ago, Miller was serving a six-game suspension that may have been more about a guy who didn’t grasp the consequences of his actions rather than a problem with marijuana. There were missed court dates that led to warrants and more embarrassing publicity.

Peyton Manning said the Broncos’ offense “stunk” in practice against the Texans on Tuesday. (Kathryn Scott Osler, The Denver Post)

Peyton Manning was not a happy camper Tuesday after the Broncos’ first of three joint practices with the Texans. The Broncos’ quarterback didn’t hold back with his evaluation of his offense’s performance at Dove Valley, saying the team “stunk” and that the Texans “kicked our butt.”

Here’s what else he had to say …

On holding joint practices with the Houston Texans:
“Well, I think it is great to get somebody different. You get to go against different players, different schemes. I thought our offense stunk today. I thought the (Houston) defense totally kicked our butt. I couldn’t see what was going on on the other side of the field, so we’ll learn from the film, there will be some good things to see. Hopefully we will come out and do a better job tomorrow for our players to uphold doing our jobs of executing. But I think there will be some benefit for them, they are a 3-4 defense, they got some great defensive players, and play a lot of different coverages, (with) one of the best coaches out there. Overall it will be a good week for us. We’ve got to do better than we did today on offense.

On how the Texans played:
“They executed better than we did. I don’t know what the word is or the adjective was, but just thought they did their jobs a lot better than we did on offense. I couldn’t see the other side of the ball. That was all I was worried about.”

On the preseason so far:
“It’s good. We have played two physical games against two physical teams, and this will be a great week of work against a physical defense, as well. Saturday, the game will be good work. When you play the third game you play the most, and like I said, they give you looks at 3-4 on certain downs and then looks for four down and have all the different blitzes and coverages, as well. They have good personnel so it’s a good challenge.”

On what he hopes to get out of the third preseason game:
“I think it is always nice for your young players to see different defenses. You like to see as many things as you possible can before you get to the regular season. You can’t see it all, but this is a great way to get exposed to some different defenses, different situations, different blitzes, and what the adjustments are. Then trying to get on the same page with some of the new guys, maybe getting Emmanuel (Sanders) out there practicing and get him on the same page as (WR) Wes (Welker). Hopefully we can get him out there tomorrow.”Read more…

Broncos coaches not named John Fox spoke to reporters at length following practice Thursday. And Adam Gase, the team’s offensive coordinator, was rather straightforward when asked about the Broncos’ running game, with their young set of backs, and how the offense has handled having to play a pair of solid defenses — Seattle last Thursday and San Francisco this coming Sunday — in their first two preseason games.

Here’s what Gase had to say:

On what he’s seen from the running game:
“For the most part, we’re a little more downhill this year. We do stretch it some but probably not as much as we were trying to last year. We’re using a little more of our gap schemes and running some power plays which has really developed a little bit different attitude for us. It makes it a little easier on our guys to say, ‘Hey, I’m just coming off the ball, and we’re going to be downhill.’”

On if the running game can help the defense:
“I think for what we’re doing right now, especially with our defense, they would say we’re probably running the ball better, and our downhill running game is probably helping them because now they’re seeing what they’re probably going to see in the regular season. I think it’s helping both sides of the ball.”

On Friday, Broncos president and CEO Joe Ellis joined The Press Box from Dove Valley to talk further about Pat Bowlen’s resignation and his continued influence on the team’s operations, the ongoing construction of the team’s new training facility and much more. What follows is a transcript of his chat with the guys on The Press Box.

ON THE ABSENCE OF FANS AT CAMP:
“I share his disappointment. It’s just not the same. We don’t have enough parking. The atmosphere is just a bit different this year. I promise it will be a terrific atmosphere next year.”

ON THE NEW TRAINING FACILITY:
“No. 1, the building was built in 1989 and was a little bit tired and needed to be refreshed. When we complete it, you’ll see it’s been refreshed. We were one of two or maybe three cold-weather cities that didn’t have their own place to practice whent he weather was inclement. We needed that. I think players notice that. They see a field house in Chicago — and it’s beautiful. Or a field house in Cleveland, or a field house in New York or New England. We have to rise the occasion and keep up with it. You have to make the players feel good about getting out of their cars when they get here in the morning.”

“One of the things we wrestled with was how many days per year you need to do use it here, because the weather in Colorado is so great. As weather gets colder, I think we’ll use it more than we realize we’ll use it. That’s my prediction.”

ON BOWLEN’S RESIGNATION:
“It was tough for everybody. Especially tough for the family — Annabel and his seven children. We had some meetings leading up to that because we wanted to do it the right way for them and for Pat. Those were tough meetings and emotional meetings. Because not only do they love their father, but they love what he did and how he did it. He can’t come through the door anymore as much. It’ll stay tough. In terms of here for the people of Dove Valley and at the stadium, a lot of them have been here for a long time because he is so kind and loyal and generous.

“The night before, I thought of people who were so close to him in the organization and needed to know before the announcement came out the next day. Steve (“Greek”) Antonopulos was the first one. He’s been here north of 37 years, and every day, Mr. Bowlen started his day, by parking in the garage, coming up through the steps and stopping by Greek’s office and chatting with him. So I called him. Greek goes to bed early because he gets here about 4 in the morning or 4:30 in the morning. I woke him up. I told him that, and he said. ‘Listen, I really appreciate you calling me. I’ll see you in the morning.’ And that morning, we went in and he looked at me, and we just lost it. We didn’t say anything. And that’s the kind of impact he had on all of us and so many people here.” Read more…

Denver Broncos DeMarcus Ware (94) heads to drills during organized team activities on June 10, 2014, at Dove Valley in Englewood. (John Leyba, The Denver Post)

Speaking to reporters at Dove Valley on Wednesday, the first day players had to report to training camp, Broncos general manager John Elway said he wanted this year’s team to find a defensive identity.

“I think that we’ve got to get to be where we’re a complete football team,” Elway said. “We can’t rely on (Peyton Manning) to win it because he can’t win it by himself. So I think what we’ve done defensively, especially with DeMarcus Ware and the leadership ability there, and Aqib (Talib), as well as T.J. (Ward) and the leadership that they’ve brought is the defense to have their identity. And they want to have their identity, take pride in what they do and not have to rely on that offense to bail us out.

Matt Russell, the Broncos’ director of player personnel, talks with John Elway before the start of a game last year. (John Leyba, The Denver Post)

Matt Russell, the former University of Colorado star linebacker who is now John Elway’s top deputy as Broncos director of player personnel, has begun his 6 1/2-month work release sentence at Arapahoe County Jail.

The 2014 Denver Broncos media guide is available online. (Provided by Denver Broncos)

The unveiling of the Broncos media guide a mere hour ago serves as a pleasant reminder — especially with the Rockies having lost 18 of 21 to take over last place in the National League West — that a new NFL season will soon get underway.

Broncos training camp kicks off July 24. Players are slated to report July 23.

Due to construction at Dove Valley headquarters, the team has announced that practices will not — repeat, NOT — be open to the public. However, three open practices are scheduled for Sports Authority Field at Mile High.

The Broncos and Texans will practice against each other at Dove Valley ahead of their preseason game. (John Leyba, The Denver Post)

As training camp grinds on through the hot summer, players get sick of practicing against each other.

The Broncos and Houston Texans came up with a remedy by agreeing to practice against each other for three days prior to their third preseason game, Saturday, Aug. 23 at Sports Authority Field at Mile High.

The two teams will practice against each other during the final days of training camp — Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday on Aug. 19, 20 and 21 — then take a Friday break from each other before playing their preseason game on Saturday night.

I was on a conference call Thursday with former Pro Bowler Jeff Saturday, Peyton Manning’s longtime center for the Indianapolis Colts. He now works for ESPN as an analyst, and this quote caught my attention:

“I think the excitement between Tom Brady and Peyton Manning is fun, but ultimately this game will not be decided by those guys. They will play well like we’ve come to expect, but ultimately the front sevens of both these squads, and the rushing attacks on both teams, will decide the fate of this football game. Who will be able to stop the line and who’s able to make each team go one dimensional?”

Saturday had a couple other fascinating quotes, one on Manning’s ability to beat a team he’s lost to in the same season –- and the other quote about Manning’s legacy.

Peyton Manning will have all eyes on him again Sunday in Denver. (John Leyba, The Denver Post)

For fans of the Orange and Blue and to the rest of you, here’s the newest edition of the Broncos Insider Newsletter, with links and stats from around the country looking toward Sunday’s Denver vs. New England AFC championship game…

Yes, yes, yes, until they prove us otherwise. The Broncos shorthanded offensive line allowed just 20 sacks in 16 games this season, fewest in the NFL. (The next fewest allowed was by the Lions, who allowed 23, the next fewest by a playoff team, the Bengals with 29.) In addition, the Broncos allowed just 51 quarterback hits, second-fewest behind the Bengals, who had 47.

There’s no bigger sample size, really, and even an improved pass rush shouldn’t be able to do too much against Peyton Manning’s line. Last time the two teams played, Manning didn’t take a sack, and though the Chargers’ pass rush has looked better, it’s really just been over the past two games.

With 10 days to mull over their loss to San Diego, the Broncos seemed to move on after their mini-bye leading up to their trip to Houston. With Peyton Manning being recognized with a somewhat prestigious honor and no new injuries to worry about, the team shouldn’t have had too much to complain about, especially considering they face two losing teams to end the regular season.

Monday: The Broncos had what they called a “bonus” practice on Monday; usually, the team just has meetings, but with no Sunday game, it was able to get out there on the field. Peyton Manning, Wes Welker (concussion), Kayvon Webster (thumb) and Derek Wolfe (illness) sat out the practice.

Manning was also honored as Sports Illustrated’s Sportsman of the Year, an honor that was announced Sunday night. Sports Illustrated editor Chris Stone was on hand at Dove Valley to discuss the honor, and a dinner was held for Manning Monday night. Also, if you don’t take the time to read Lee Jenkins’ story about Manning, on the cover of this week’s issue, you’re bananas.

The construction will be a two-part project. The team plans to construct an indoor practice facility as well as upgrade the existing structure, which was built in 1990. Cost of the new complex will be more than $35 million.

After skipping last week, which was supposed to be an uneventful bye, this week in review will go all the way back to Nov. 2, when Broncos coach John Fox was hospitalized with a heart problem.

Saturday: Mid-afternoon, news broke that Fox had experienced light-headedness while golfing in Charlotte and was taken to a local hospital. As the evening unfolded, more details became available, first that he was undergoing tests and was hopeful to be released and eventually that he’d have to undergo aortic valve replacement surgery. It also became known that Fox was aware of the condition and had hoped to postpone the necessary procedure until after the season.

It was an odd sight Monday during Broncos practice at Dove Valley: Jack Del Rio standing next to Peyton Manning. For the past season and a half, Del Rio has worked primarily on the other side of the practice field, with the defense. But his role as Broncos interim coach changes things. We talked about in today’s episode of the Press Box (airing tonight at 10 p.m. on KCDO Channel 3 and Channel 649 in HD).

Denver Post sports columnist Mark Kiszla and radio hosts Peter Burns and Oren Lomena break down Von Miller’s press conference with the media just hours before he was suspended for six games.

Kiszla says that Miller’s talk of true teammates and fans supporting him — instead of the media — is disingenuous because the NFL and Roger Goodell suspended him, not the media. Kiszla expects that Miller felt he was going to either get away free or face, at worst, a four-game suspension. But he ended up with six games.

So well, in fact, Thomas is already calling it “one of my best camps.” And we’re still a few days away from the Broncos second preseason game – Saturday at Seattle.

“I’ve been healthy, I’ve been out here on the field, I’ve been learning, getting better,” Thomas said. “I’ve got a lot of great guys to go against every day. We’re competing. Camp has been good.”

Thomas is expected to make the leap into being one of the NFL’s elite receivers this season after putting up career highs last year in receptions (94), receiving yards (1,434) and touchdowns (10). In fact, all of those numbers were higher than his first two seasons combined.

But he in no way views himself a finished product.

“There’s some things I can work on,” Thomas said. “But that’s why we go to camp. But it’s been real good.”

Follow Chris Dempsey on Twitter @dempseypost or email him at cdempsey@denverpost.com

Peyton Manning is getting used to listening to new offensive coordinator Adam Gase in his ear before plays ahead of the Denver Broncos’ first preseason game against the San Francisco 49ers away on Thursday.

Mark Kiszla, Oren Lomena and Peter Burns discuss more on Broncos training camp, what Manning expects from the game in addition to what positions they’d like to see some answers for. Namely, running back.

Mike Klis has been with The Denver Post since 1998, after working 13 years with the Colorado Springs Gazette Telegraph. Major League Baseball was Klis' initial passion. He started covering the Colorado Rockies after Coors Field was approved for construction in August 1990.

Nicki Jhabvala is the Sports Digital News Editor for The Denver Post. Before arriving in Denver, she spent five years at Sports Illustrated working primarily as its online NBA editor, and she was most recently the overnight home page editor at the New York Times. She has reported regularly on the Broncos since joining the staff.

A published author and award-winning journalist, Benjamin Hochman is a sports columnist for The Denver Post. He previously worked on the staff of the New Orleans Times-Picayune, winners of two Pulitzer Prizes for their Hurricane Katrina coverage.